Improvement in burial-caskets



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR M. ALLEN, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT lN BURIAL-CASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,914, dated October 13, 1874; application filed September 8, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR M. ALLEN, of the village and county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented a Burial-Casket, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to certain improve ments in the construction of that class of burial caskets having a revolving top or cover; and the invention consists in making the cover in one piece, with closed ends, and hanging said cover on pivots, so that it may turn in the space between the tray and outer casing. It also consists in securing a strip of wood along one edge of the casing, to form a meeting rail or joint for the cover. It further consists in hanging the tray on pivots and strengthening or further supporting it by, brackets extending beneath it from the easing, as hereinafter specifically set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view, showing the top half opened. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken at a point near the center and passing through one of the brackets. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one end.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

The letter B represents the outer case, and O is a shallow box placed within said case, with sufficient room between the sides, bottoms, and ends of the case and box 0 to ad mit of a free movement of the top A, which is made nearly semi-cylindrical in form, with closed ends g g, and is hung to pivots d d fastened to the ends of the outer case. The pivots d have sufficient projection to form bearings for the ends of the tray 0, which rests upon them, and said tray is further supported by the use of two or more iron brackets, f, screwed to blocks of wood e glued and securely fastened to the front side of the case. These brackets f extend down the side and across the bottom of the tray 0, as clearly shown in Fig.2. The side of the top or cover A Imake to project a short distance above the molding of the outer case B, in order to get more support for the tray on the blocks of wood 0 c, against which the edge of the cover strikes, and as I wish to make the portion h of the cover stationary, to fasten the lock to. This I can do and still maintain the symmetry of the casket, for I shall make both sections of the cover to project an equal distance above the outer case. The lock secures-the cover when closed, and theforce of gravity maintains it when open. The usual catches for holding the cover are not necessary in this casket, and therefore dispensed with.

I am aware that it is not new to construct coflins or caskets with a top or cover made to revolve in grooves, nor do I desire to claim it; but

Having thus described my invention, what I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The cover A, made in one piece, with closed ends 9 g, and hung on pivots d d, so as to turn in the space between the tray and casing, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the revolving top or cover A, of the section h, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In the herein-described coffin or casket, the straps or brackets f and pivots d d, combined with the tray 0, for the purpose of suspending said tray within the outer casin g, substantially as shown and specified.

OSCAR M. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

()rro LEE JonNsoN, D. E. GnoEsBEoK. 

